I particularly remember this show as I took my 15 yr old brother to his first show at red rocks. I was on this whole tour and my little brother lived in Denver. Unfortunately because my little brother didn’t have a ticket I gave mine to somebody else so I could stay with him. Down on stage left there was a barricade leading into the venue and several security guys hanging there. My bro and I were kind of hanging out there to see if we could hear the music at least and about a third of the way through the show the crowd of a couple dozen ended up pushing the barricade over and next thing I knew me and my brother were just running up the stairs into the show and into the crowd. I never saw my brother again during the show but I certainly enjoyed myself and pretty crazy to be able to say that out of all the Dead shows I went to this was the one show we scammed into even though it wasn’t intentional. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Quite a night for my bro. So miss those incredible days..

I found this show, like a lot of other '87 shows to be short and uninspiring. It seemed like the whole point of the pre-drums was to make it the drums as quickly as possible, and although in '87 they seemed to focus on the extra rock and roll tune or 2 after the space, I was disappointed in the lack of jamming. I remember appreciating the nice vocal work at the end of He's Gone at the time, but wondered why they would continue to play their jamming tunes with no jams, or minimal jamming, like most PITBs of this era. Oh well, the scene was great and it was great to be out in Colorado and we heard the rumor about the record store in Montrose having all of the Telluride tickets and bolted there immediately after the 3rd show.

I remember thinking that Brent looked like a shining light on stage that night. I almost ground scored a brand new pair of Birkenstock’s but I was too scared to snag em cuz I was already wearing a tie dye that I stole from a dorm room drier (at an institution I did not attend). The music was amazing and the dancing was best on those stairs running up the side of the amphitheater.
I think we had to drive all night to get to Utah.

This whole run is really, really solid. The boys showed they were in a great mood. From Big Boss Man to the double encore - you don't see that every day. I especially like Loser and Cassidy from the 1st set. Jerry's solos are quintessential Jerry. I also like that they followed up with Far From Me and Box - getting everyone into the act. Jerry's really pushing the envelope in the outro of He's Gone - maybe something to do with the OD at the campground that weekend. Gimme Some Lovin' is strong, as is Not Fade Away. Jerry's solo after the second verse in NFA - again, quintessential Jerry, just perfect. A great ending to my 21st birthday weekend, and my first (only) Red Rocks shows.

Mostly good; the SBD is a bit flat.

Of all things, "Gimme Some Lovin" is the highlight of this show. Brent and Phil belted out the vocals on it and really did kick ass as promised! I saw all the Red Rocks shows in the 80's and this was one of the better ones.

The home of my first show in '84 and like a home away from home for all of the mid-late '80's. This run did have a special place in time as it precluded the Telluride 'Harmonic Convergance' weekend! What a great week of music, friends, and fun:) So many incredible memories!

I have so many great memories of these nights, and yes, I remember Littlewing 'cause he was camped in the adjacent site to ours at Chief Hosa - I remember coming back from the gig to our entire area roped off with police tape and the feeling in my gut when I heard the story of his compadres who laid him against a tree as he died 'cause they didn't know what else to do - the tragedy of this day shaped how I viewed the Dead scene thereafter - So many dear friends were lost to drugs in those days...I am sincerely glad to have placed my priority on the music rather than the scene; to still be here today to listen to these amazing recordings and to relive the good and the bad times and feel special because I was there at all - Blessings on all those who seek and journey

Nice show. Good matrix recording.

THIS SHOW WAS GOOD >>>>>> BRENT!!!!!!!!

Wow. Brent is really singing beautifully. He was in a great space musically in '87. 100% better than the drunken messes of '86.

Anyone Remember Kurt Littlewing Found Unconcious In The Chief Henry Hose'Campground. That Was 08/12/1987. So I Believe That The Word Got To The Band And Jerry Really Ramped It Up During He's Gone on 08/13/1987. The Vocals Will Take You To The Moon... Long Live Grateful Dead Music...

the first half of this concert is sloppy and slow but the second half blew me away. The sound is different than i've ever heard before and definetly worth a listen, especially the second set.

ps. this stream has bad breaks inturrupting transitions.

Phil sings in Gimme "Now I'm gonna kick ass like everybody should" Great venue. Went to 3 Rocks and Telluride. 20 years ago. Wow time flys. Miss ya Jer

This is a great show and the first set was pretty cool.I have not herd boss man in a while and Row is just smoking.Jerry is playing his heart out and you very well will notice it.It seems that everybody is on the same track and having a good time and you hear it when phil is singing and laughs while doing so.There is a lot of energy and there is a good vibe going on this night.I was only 17 when I was at this show but it seem like it was just last week.The crowd and band seemed to feed off one another this night and all I can say it stayed in my memory cuz it was one of the best shows I ever went to.I give it 4 stars I think I only ever gave 5 stars once cuz well thats a perfect show.I am not very good at giving reveiws to so Ireally only do it on the shows that I really like.
Keep On Trucking

All three of these shows on the Rocks were a blast as have been every year. This third night had a great Sunday like feel for a Thursday. The buzz for Telluride was in everyone's blood and at this point nobody knew Bill Graham had made sure there'd be plenty of tickets for those who'd make the journey. If you feared an attempt on T-ride you could hang for a Neil Young show on the Rocks that weekend. Back to this show, it RAINED. Hard until about show time. Pretty festive atmosphere with many in the crowd sporting orange ponchos with printing "I got rained on on the rocks". This summer ('06) I saw these sold again for the first time since. I love the unique feel of this show and its a nice first set list for the era. Opening with the first Big Boss Man since '85 and the fifth one since '71! I rest my case on the idiocy of jboyaquar. Second sets opening with Uncle John's is always beautiful. Set back for story time children. The harmonies were great, as good as the boys can ever muster and we loved em for the attempts. Great long second set and closing Red Rocks forever with what we called at the time a triple encore; NFA->TOUCH->HEAVEN'S DOOR. By the way jboyaquar, this way the first Heaven's Door with only GD members on stage, Pittsburgh and the Dylan shows were before. jboyaquar your reviews are dry and offer no useful info and you have no grasp of GD vernacular, stick with shows you attended or beat it!

Why hasn't this show gotten any love with a review?
1st Set: Well, isn't this a surprise? Sorry to say, but this "Big Boss Man" is pretty low-key and mild-mannered. A good "Jack" follows. "Row" is nice enough, but kinda enters your ear, and departs your memory a minute later. The spitfire piles up on "All Over" as the song develops, but it won't overpower ya. Well, I am feeling pretty low; "Loser" is just what the doctor ordered. It's well-performed, but like the rest of this set, lacks that 'x' factor to make it truly interesting. That all changes with an active, energetic "Cassidy" that moves with blinding speed. Yay! let's go to Doobie land with "Far From Me." It passes, thankfully, in 4 minutes. No chants, but I'm sure "Box of Rain" eases the crowd's pain from the previous tune. However, This version's a little too meek to be impressive. I've heard a lot stronger, especially to close a set. (P & Friends LA June 2003) A well-played if sobering 1st.

2nd Set: Continuing the warm if not rockingly euphoric mood is "UJB." It's nicely jammed out, but lacks an outro jam as the men recollect themselves for the entrance into "Estimated." Bobby's scratchy bellowing screams are worth the price of this admission alone. It's a good version but not triumphant. The outro jam is curiously sparse which should lead us all to believe that it will peter out to a single riff known to all as "He's Gone." the first few minutes are standard stuff, but Jerry's solo is delicious and the vocal outro jam is quirkily appealing. "Drums" is active and loud with a jungle timpani jam in the middle. "Space" soon becomes soothing which leads us to the wise "Wheel." It serves its purpose to usher us back to structured music. "Gimme" is solid and gets the juices flowing. It quiets down so each individual can enter their own unique "Blue" period. Not searing, but decent. Yep, it's the last show of a three night stand, guess what's next? "Throwing" is direct and concise without feeling rushed. No build-up, just sent right into standard "NFA" territory.
More bop-bop-bop-bop's...into the long-awaited (yea, right) requisite playing of "Touch." Not to be cynical, but there's no way a three night stand is taking place without a crowd hearing their #9 hit. Surprisingly, the boys aren't done after your run of the mill "Touch."
Jerry feels like he "Knockin." I totally dig it when he says 'people I feel like' (2:42)
Anyways, this version sounds appropriately heavy and solemn. Bobby, "Thank you all."

3 1/4 stars for this.